The Saudi Super Cup, being held in East Asia for the first time, will kick off tonight at 8 PM at Hong Kong Stadium, with the star-studded powerhouse teams Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad taking the stage first. Two Ballon d'Or winners, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, will face off head-to-head.
The two teams showed no signs of backing down during the pre-match press conference. Portuguese star João Félix, who recently joined Al-Nassr, stated that they would settle the match within 90 minutes, while Al-Ittihad head coach Laurent Blanc emphasized that he has a "secret weapon" to deal with Ronaldo and is determined to fight for victory in this match.
After arriving in Hong Kong, all four teams participating in the Saudi Super Cup have been fully focused on training, with minimal attendance at public events. The pre-match press conference held yesterday (Aug. 19) marked the first public appearance of the four teams since their arrival, attracting over a hundred journalists, more than half of whom were from Saudi media, making the scene quite lively.
Al-Nassr sent coach Jorge Jesus and newly signed Portuguese star Félix to attend the press conference. In the previous warm-up match, Félix teamed up with Ronaldo to help Al-Nassr secure a big win over Rio Ave. He noted that integrating into the team was no challenge, believing that football is a universal language and that high-level players can adapt well wherever they play.
Regarding the upcoming match against Al-Ittihad, Félix expressed confidence in helping the team win his first trophy since joining, saying that they will end this match with a victory within 90 minutes.
Blanc: We have a strategy to contain Ronaldo
Representing Al-Ittihad, head coach Blanc and Benzema arrived shortly after Al-Nassr. Facing this "Ballon d'Or winner showdown" with Ronaldo, Benzema said this is not a "personal duel." He described Ronaldo as an outstanding player and wished him all the best. However, He also noted that they will showcase the capabilities of Saudi football in this game.
Al-Ittihad coach Laurent Blanc said that he has a strategy to contain Ronaldo but kept it a mystery before the match: "I have a way to deal with Ronaldo, but I won't tell you how. After all, during my playing days, I was an award-winning defender. To win, we need not only solid defense but also excellent offense."
Although Ronaldo did not attend the press conference, his condition appeared fine during pre-match training. While playing "monkey in the middle," he joked and laughed with his teammates, showing a good mood. Other stars, such as newly signed Kingsley Coman and Sadio Mané, also appeared in training, suggesting Al-Nassr will be at full strength for this match.
Two games, two tastes
The other semifinal of the Saudi Super Cup will take place on Wednesday (Aug. 20), featuring Al-Qadisiyah against Al-Ahli Jeddah. While these two teams may not boast the same star power as the powerhouse clubs Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad, they have still received a warm welcome from Hong Kong fans. Al-Qadisiyah goalkeeper Koen Casteels mentioned that many fans waited at their hotel and could even call out each player's name, which moved him deeply. He hopes to deliver an exciting match for the fans.
Al-Qadisiyah has a special connection with Hong Kong. In 1994, they defeated South China at Hong Kong Stadium to win the Asian Cup Winners' Cup. Returning to this "lucky ground," goalkeeper Koen Casteels said he has already felt the passion of the fans before the match: "Every day, we see fans waiting outside the hotel, and they can even accurately name every player on our team. This tournament is an opportunity to promote Saudi football to Asia and the world. We will give our all to deliver an exciting match for the fans."
As for Al-Ahli Jeddah, they are the reigning AFC Champions League Elite winners. Goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, who previously played for Chelsea, stated that this season they aim to reach greater heights and chase more trophies, with the Saudi Super Cup being the starting point.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Kwok Ching-hin; English Editor: Darius)
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